Trump Weighs Direct US Military Intervention Against Houthi Forces

Trump told reporters the administration would evaluate a direct response, stating "we may" join the Saudi effort. "We move very quickly," the president added. The attack on the airport, which injured over 300 people and included one US citizen among the dead, has intensified pressure from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the United States to abandon its current support role—which consists primarily of intelligence and targeting data—in favor of direct combat.

The prospect of deeper involvement triggered immediate opposition from lawmakers. Representative Ro Khanna, who has long challenged unauthorized US military activity in the region, argued that Congress never granted the authority for such an intervention. Khanna emphasized the need to preserve the 2025 ceasefire agreement, urging the White House to prioritize diplomacy over renewed hostilities. Meanwhile, advocacy groups have characterized a potential shift toward direct warfare as a contradiction of the administration's stated foreign policy priorities.

The conflict remains volatile, with Saudi warplanes already conducting a heavy bombing campaign in Yemen. According to Houthi health ministry spokesperson Anees al-Asbahi, airstrikes since September 3 have resulted in 91 deaths, predominantly among women and children. Data from the Costs of War project at Brown University indicates that the US has already spent between $2.76 billion and $4.95 billion on anti-Houthi operations since October 2023, sustaining a military presence in Yemen that dates back to 2002.